WORK FOR THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3148, 15 July 1914, Page 12

WORK FOR THE WEEK.

FLOWER GARDEN.—BuIbs that are breaking through the soil should be cleaned off and some fresh soot scattered about to keep down the slugs. Borders of box edging or of violets that require cutting or' planting should receive early attention. Borders of violets that have been planted out more than • three years seldom produce many flowers, as the growths become crowded and weak. The plants should be dug up, a portion of the strongest and healthiest runners selected and replanted, and the soil enriched with well-decayed manure, so as to have an abundance of violets during the winter. A healthy, vigorous growth during the season is necessary, and this cannot be attained upon poor soil. The best variety for winter flowering is Lee’s odoratissima, a large flower with long stalks. KITCHEN GARDEN: —Asparagus beds should be dressed without further delay, if not already finished. All established beds are much improved with a good sprinkling of soot and salt in equal parts light-pointed in over the surface. The best time to plant out asparagus is in early spring, just when the shoots are commencing to move, when a good selection of plants can bo made by rejecting all that show weak or spindle shoots; as they never produce large heads, the larger the bud the better. At this stage the plants rapidly heal and grow, and large growers prefer spring planting. Preparation for planting should bo carried on during the winter, as the soil should be trenched to a depth of 2ft, with ■- manure well worked through the soil in each trench, and at planting the roots should be set 12in from plant to plant, and IBin between the rows, or, better still, 18in each way. Some little extra trouble should be taken with an asparagus bed, as it is not an annual affair, and when entered upon it should be well done. A good deal of labour will bo necessary during the next two or three months in keeping down the weeds between the rows of parsnips,• onions, etc., as it is impossible to destroy them by ordinary hoeing, the sun not being sufficiently strong to kill them. Where possible, they should bo buried by a light digging, or removed off the ground altogether. As the present month advances, larger sowings of early potatoes should be made. The site should be selected with regard to a dry position, as we so frequently get very heavy rains in August and September that decay the sets in large numbers if the ground becomes at all wet or sloppy. dlVhole potatoes of a medium size are to bo preferred for planting right throughout this month. Early peas should be staked before the haulm becomes entangled. Peas pay for the extra trouble and small expense of stakes in an increased yield and ease of picking. FRUIT GARDEN.—When the soil is at all “sticky” the work of planting should bo delayed for a few days, as trees planted when the soil is in this condition do not Start readily into growth, and as there is plenty of' w’ork to go on with in the shape of pruning, no time need be lost,. as this work should be pushed on and finished as Boon as practicable. Bush fruits of all kinds should be the first to receive attention. All cuttings, etc., should be carefully picked up

and destroyed. Raspberry canes should be thinned out, leaving only six of the strongest to each stand, and the height should be reduced to about 4ft, which will_ found the most serviceable height in digging between; the sets or rows. Oare should be taken not to cut into the small fibrous roots near the surface, as this causes too many suckers to be produced all over the bed. Some large growers advocate merely hoeing the beds deeply, applying manure in the form of a mulch, and they succeed by this method in growing heavy crops. In considering the pruning of larger fruit trees, let anyone look over a number of apple trees and observe the fine, large fruit produced by. properly-pruned trees, and compare it with the small, inferior fruit growing on tr«ps that are never pruned—as many, especially in orchards, are—and the great advantage of pruning will be at once seen and understood. The trees that do best under pruning are those which have been pruned annually from their youth upwards; but even long-neglected tre.es may be improved by the operation. Certain trees may require .some' particular form of pruning, but as a rule they are all done the same way, and in ; executing the operation generally, never alloys' the branches to remain so thick and close together from one year to another that the sun and air will not play on them freely when they are covered with foliage. Anyope, no matter how little they know, of pruning, should be able to prune a tree on that principle, and it is the most important operation of all. Dead branches should never be allowed to remain. Young wood should be left to replace these. Branches well furnished with fruit buds for a long distance are much better than those destitute of buds on all but a little thick bunch at the point.' There are always many side branches formed during the summer on the main branches, but few of these are needed to . retain the fertility of the tree, and at pruning time three parts or more- of them should be removed. Do not cut. young trees down very hard in the upward branches, and large trees should always have a few young branches coming.. on. Use a sharp knife or saw for large branches in pruning, and make the cuts clean and neat.' „

V GREENHOUSE.— At this dull season, when there is very little root action, many plants in pots become stagnant, often through over-watering, which is shown by a green, mossy growth upon the surface of the soil. This should be removed by slightly pricking the soil over ruth a pointed stick. All kinds, of plants egn much benefited by this treatment, unless the plants are at rest, as it has the same effect upon them as hoeing upon crops in the. open air. Great care is now necessary in watering pot plants, and no water should be thrown about the floors and stages, as there is abundant. moisture s in the atmosphere to supply the requirements of the plants. Large plants of ferns that show signs of ripening their fronds should- have less water at the roots than usual, as even ferns are benefited by a partial rest. Still they should never be allowed to become dust dry, as this* kills many of the roots.